Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

cii. xvir.] A Dull March.
We made a rather Ion 2; dull march to-day, and
the sun was very oppressive, so much so that Wilfrid
who rode his delul all the morning was constantly
dropping off to sleep and almost off the camel.
The only amusement was a fox-hunt which Wilfrid
and Mohammed enjoyed in the afternoon without
me. They had a breakneck gallop over rotten
ground for a couple of miles, and came back in
triumph with the skin. It is nearly white. We
are encamped this evening in a great open plain, the
outskirts of the Hamad, having the Bishari hills
the north-west of us, a long ridge, the continuation
in fact of the Sinjar, which under different names
stretches all the way from M(5sul to Damascus.
March 27.—Passed another caravan from Damascus,
fourteen days on the road. They report
that a certain truffle hunter of Tudmur, being down
in the Hamad, met a party of Sebaa Anazeh some
days ago, with two hundred camels they had taken
from the Eoala. Jedaan was said to be coming
north, having, they assured us, " ruined" his enemies.
We are pretty sure, then, to get news of our friends
at Tudmur, if not before. These camel men are not
by any means so anxious to meet the Anazeh as we
are, for they are making their journey now, on the
strength of the Bedouins being away south. I
suppose we are nearly the first travellers along this
road, who have watched for spears on the horizon
with any feelings but anxiety. As it is, I think
even a ghazu would be Av^elcome to Wilfrid.
VOL. 11. D
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